What's your hoe doing?

[aighead]

@Willie B I was initially planning to go that route but I don't trust my little welder (not to mention my skill level) to make a sufficient weld for those hooks. I'd rather your style of flip down forks with the bar, but having something trumped waiting around to find a welder, and bar, and forks. Long term this will likely be my solution too. God knows my wife likes more things sitting in the yard!

 

[Willie B]

Mine are commercially built. I don't know by whom. If building yours, I believe you'd be best off with 1/8" 7018. This does NOT require a big welder.

I once borrowed the clamp on style. I was NOT happy with them!

 

[aighead]

You saying the forks themselves are 1/8" 7018?

I'm more concerned with the hooks and probably a plate to weld to the loader bucket and hooks to. My little 120v welder won't weld the hooks on well enough would it?

 

[Swetz]

aighead,
This is how I keep my forks straight. Even with the bar between them that NH575E has in his pics did not stop mine from pivoting. The properly positioned plate seems to do the job to keep them straight.


I have attached a link to the style I would purchase for a full size tractor. They are a bit spendy, but come with the hooks that are welded to your bucket.
https://www.everythingattachments.c...m#:~:text= Item Number , 7 3 more rows

 

[NH575E]

You saying the forks themselves are 1/8" 7018?

I'm more concerned with the hooks and probably a plate to weld to the loader bucket and hooks to. My little 120v welder won't weld the hooks on well enough would it?

Pretty sure he is referring to a rod type and size for a buzz box type welder.

I'm sure you've seen my thread on my weld on thumb but just to bring it back to life you can weld almost anything if you prepare and make multiple passes when needed. I welded this on with a 100 amp 120 volt mig welder back in 2016 and it is holding fine. It may not be professional or pretty looking but it is plenty strong and functional.



I don't like to advocate for this company but for the saving they sometimes offer I'm not opposed to buying from them. Past experience has taught me to pay with paypal or buy through eBay for protection when dealing with them.
This is their 4000 lb rated solid forks with a 72" wide rod and hooks for $772.
https://www.palletforks.com/skid-st...x48-inch-over-the-bucket-fork-kit/141920.html

 

[Willie B]

You saying the forks themselves are 1/8" 7018?

I'm more concerned with the hooks and probably a plate to weld to the loader bucket and hooks to. My little 120v welder won't weld the hooks on well enough would it?

No, to fabricate the forks. I'd want more than 120 volt machine.

 

[aighead]

@Swetz and @NH575E Yup, you guys both posted the more expensive version that I'd really like but can't justify the expense of yet.

Swetz, thanks for the pictures and description, that appears to be a decent fix for those sliding around! Maybe not fool-proof but better.

NH575E, I think about your post and thumb pretty frequently, it's another thing I'd like eventually. It certainly looks like it'd make moving logs on or off piles or whatever a lot easier. I just have a little Lincoln MIG welder, similar to what you used?

@Willie B Got it. Long term the bar and fold down forks are the solution I'll choose.

 

[csthompson12]

Harbor freight has a cheap stick welder I have been using that works real nice. Not much of a duty cycle on it, but burns 7018 real hot for a nice weld. I have done small stuff like chain grabs and D loops.

https://www.harborfreight.com/stick-225-inverter-welder-with-electrode-holder-64978.html

 

[aighead]

Thanks for the tip! I may have to try it!

 

[Fred from MO]

The thumb has come in handy with this years wood harvest. No more bending over or rolling logs. Best part is I tought my son to use the chainsaw. WaAY better now.

 

[roadrunner81]

My Hoe is assisting with the backfill and compaction of a new side sewer.

 

[Honcho]

Our fitters work without protection sheild. Sometimes they work 2-3 meter deep. I m affraid for them/.

 

[Honcho]

 

[Willie B]

The rule of thumb is 4' (1.3 meters). The actual rules are complicated, but deeper, you need shoring, or terrace back the bank. I willingly waste time digging back the sides of the ditch. I don't want anybody getting hurt.

 

[roadrunner81]

Well I plan on going home everyday. This service was 12' deep and the sandy soil started falling in at about the 6' mark. Shoring is cheap insurance as long as it's used properly and everyone gets to go home at the end of the day. Qualified pipelayers are hard to come by now days so I find myself doing most of our pipe work within right of ways or runs that will be tested.

 

[aighead]

My hoe buried another horse yesterday.

 

[stinky64]

Hopefully it wasn't one of yours...you sometimes get attached to them damn hayburners as you do a good dog.....dated a chick once with horses and they kinda grow on ya.....

 

[aighead]

Nope, wasn't mine. I buried one for this same lady, down the road from me, who said "yeah, all those horses out there are over 20 years old" as I gave her my phone number... I think horse life is a bit longer than 20 years but it sounds like she's expecting more any time now.

 

[Willie B]

I knew a girl, had a 29 year old mare. Everybody thought she was dying one night. She gave birth. I'm not sure how much longer she lived after that.

 

[Honcho]

First under table job this year. A guy came up to me and asked for help, right when I was going back to garage. I called to mechanic and told im my tire is flat and I d be late.